Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) and the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Authority have partnered to provide AWS Academy to upskill 10,000 students. AWS Academy is an AWS program designed to enable higher education institutions to prepare students for industry-recognized certifications and careers in the cloud. The program aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, and promote ICT literacy, capacity, innovation, and enterprise.
Starting in June, students can enroll in ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum that will prepare them to pursue industry recognized certifications and in-demand jobs. The curriculum also helps educators stay up-to-date with AWS Cloud innovation to equip students with the skills they need to get hired in one of the fastest-growing industries. Upon completion of the AWS program, students will be ready to put these practical cloud skills to work in entry-level tech roles.
With cloud adoption accelerating, companies large and small around the world are investing in their future with the cloud and need individuals with cloud skills to help them achieve their goals. Cloud computing is one of the top hard skills that companies need, according to LinkedIn data. In support of this, AWS invites collaborations with like-minded training organizations that have the capacity to roll out cloud training especially in remote areas. The objective of this program is to have more individuals with job-ready skills needed in the workplace and eventually support the creation of a more inclusive industry that prepares learners of all backgrounds to become the builders of tomorrow.
AWS is collaborating with various organizations, such as Gebeya, to link students with employment opportunities. Gebeya, a Pan African start-up, has developed a customized platform hosted on AWS, available online to all citizens interested in pursuing technology careers and seeking job placements. The CEO and Founder of Gebeya, Amadou Daffe, stated that the academy and job platform aim to train and certify at least 5,000 students within the first year. The platform’s critical role is to act as a conduit for economic growth, innovation, and empowering the next generation of tech leaders by bridging the gap between skills acquisition and employment opportunities. Gebeya recognizes the importance of this link and commits to providing an integrated platform connecting top-tier tech talent with the world’s most exciting companies such as AWS.
Through the partnership with Gebeya, AWS seeks to help individuals acquire cloud skills that are in high demand across various industries. This collaboration aims to address the gap between skills and job placements by providing students with access to industry-recognized certifications and in-demand jobs. The customized platform on AWS will allow students to learn and develop their skills to meet the needs of the job market. This initiative will help equip students with the necessary skills required to pursue careers in one of the fastest-growing industries globally, and contribute to the growth of the African economy.
Speaking during the announcement at Connected Kenya 2023 held in Diani, ICT Authority CEO, Mr. Stanley Kamanguya said, “One of our mandates as ICT Authority is to promote ICT literacy, capacity, innovation and enterprise. In our 10-year ICT Digital Masterplan 2022-2032, we identified that there is a gap in the non-alignment to the industry needs by universities and colleges. The program we are announcing today with AWS aims to bridge this gap between academia and industry. We are very excited to roll this out and look forward to further expanding the opportunity to students in other tertiary institutions.”
In addition, Computer Learning Centre (CLC), an AWS Training Partner in the East, West, and South Africa, will deliver AWS Training on foundational and associate levels to a group of educators to enable them to deliver AWS Academy to 10 public universities across Kenya. “We at CLC are honored to support ICT Authority’s mission to train and certify 10,000 young people through AWS Academy,’” said CEO, CLC AFRICA Aunally Maloo.
AWS aims to work together with organizations, education institutions, and governments to empower individuals along different professional journeys to upskill, reskill, and prepare for high-quality jobs. AWS invites collaborations with like-minded training organizations that have capacity to roll out cloud training especially in remote areas. In doing so, AWS hopes to support the creating of a more inclusive industry that prepares learners of all backgrounds to become the builders of tomorrow.
Robin Njiru, the Regional Public Sector Lead for West, East, and Central Africa at AWS said, “During the Connected Kenya 2022 summit, the Government of Kenya launched its ten-year ICT Digital Masterplan 2022-2032. The program we are announcing today with ICT Authority will see AWS Academy provide a curriculum that helps educators at universities stay at the forefront of cloud innovation so that they can equip students with skills needed to get hired in one of the fastest-growing industries. The overall objective of this program is to have more individuals that have job-ready skills needed in the workplace and eventually support the Government of Kenya in realizing a digitally enabled society which is a key outcome in ICT Digital Masterplan 2022-2032”.
